Alberta restaurants feel snubbed by Thursday’s budget

Restaurants in our province feel left out of Thursday’s provincial budget.

With minimum wage increases, carbon and business taxes and changes to statutory holiday pay, Western Canada’s Vice President for Restaurants Canada, Mark von Schellwitz, says restaurant owners have been hit hard.

There was no relief in the budget, and he fears more closures and job losses are on the way if changes aren’t made.

“Stephen Avenue alone, how many businesses have closed their doors? Chains like Chili’s have closed, over 300 employees lost there,” said von Schellwitz. “I think we’re going to have even more restaurant closures and even more people being laid off.”

He says they’ve been walloped financially from all corners.

“Years of pretty significant wage increases: you’ve got the liquor server wage, new labour rules now with the statutory holiday pay. It’s just adding thousands and thousands of dollars in costs when we’ve had a poor economy,” said von Schellwitz.

He says it’s unfortunate they were left out, since they’re the main source of jobs in our province, especially for youth.

“Alberta’s stubborn youth unemployment rate is 13 per cent which is the highest west of Quebec, and we’re saying ‘look, if you help us get some relief we can certainly employ more of those young people.'”

They’ve spoken to the labour minister about their concerns, and von Schellwitz hopes there will be some changes so more restaurants won’t be forced to close their doors.

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